Toy vehicle explodable on contact with an object



April 6, 1965 F. R. BROWN 'ETAL TOY VEHICLE EXPLODABLE ON CONTACT WITH AN OBJECT Filed July 16, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l I I l I 1 B 7k $5 a;

wulfl/yfl/l/a/akkzdermiezf/z BY ROBERTL KAHN A Y April 6, 1965 F. R. BROWN ETAL 3,176,429

TOY VEHICLE EXPLODABLE ON CONTACT WITH AN OBJECT Filed July 16, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Z6 12 $2 5/ \Ya 66 5, 29

Y ROBERT L. KAHN moulded out of plastic.

sists of five main parts.

United States Patent 3,176,429 TOY VEHICLE EXPLODABLE 0N CONTACT WITH AN OBJECT Frank R. Brown, Des Plaines, Irwin J. Grabel, Chicago, and Sherman I). Rubenstein, Skokie, Ill, assignors to Premium Engineering Co., Inc., Chicago, Ill, a corporation of Illinois Filed July 16, 1962, Ser. No. 209,832 2 Claims. (Cl. 46-17) This invention relates to a toy, and more particularly to a toy which can be disassociated into a plurality of predesigned pieces and may be reassembled for use again.

'The present invention may be used in toy automobiles,

toy rolling stock for toy railroads, toy airplanes, toy ships, and any other devices which are adapted to move or be moved. A toy embodying the present invention consists of a number of parts which may be assembled and maintained in assembled condition but which can separate or be disassociated into component parts upon the occurrence of a particular event. In the case of toy automobiles or similar devices which are movable, means may be provided whereby when an assembled toy bumps into an object, the various assembled parts will separate or disassociate.

A toy embodying the present invention, while capable of assuming a wide variety of forms, will always utilize the underlying invention disclosed herein. The underlying invention is based upon the fact that toys of this character can be cheaply manufactured in quantity when Any plastic toy which requires metal to be added or incorporated therein will generally increase the cost substantially to the point where certain markets for the toy may be destroyed. Accordingly, therefore, an important feature of the present invention resides in the fact that a toy can be made completely out of plastic material and not utilize any metal while still obtaining the advantages and design flexibility of a construction having metal springs.

:Purely by Way of example, a toy automobile is here illustrated consisting of a number of separate parts. The construction includes flexible members of plastic which maybe sprung into position to inter-engage parts of the toy for maintaining the same in assembled condition.

The toy includes a member which is slidable for disengaging the interconnected parts to permit the toy automobile 1 to separate into a number of separate parts. For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference will now be made to the drawings wherein:

' FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a toy automobile embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a bottom view of the toy illustrated in FIGURE 1, with certain parts broken away and other parts in section.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the toy illustrated in FIGURE 1.

. FIGURE 4 is a section on line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional elevation with the parts in disintegrated condition.

FIGURE 6 is a. section along line 66 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is a section along line 7-7 of FIGURE 2;

The toy automobile illustrated in the drawings con- Thus referring specifically to FIGURE 5, two parts comprise a chassis, generally indicated by 10; forward and rearward body portions, generally indicated by 11 and 12 respectively; and top portion, generally indicated by 13.

Referring to chassis 10, this consists of chassis proper 20 and a longitudinally movable slide portion 21. Chassis proper 20 includes longitudinal frame members 23 and 24 connected by cross members 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29. Cross member 26 is built in the shape of a rear bumper,

while cross members 27 and 28 function among other things to retain the wheel assemblies. Thus cross member 27 has overhanging hook portion 30. Retained between the longitudinal frame members 23 and 24 on one hand and hook portion 30 on the other hand is axle 32 holding wheels 33 and 34 at the ends thereof. The axle and wheels are integral. The diameter of the axle is such that it can be sprung into position between hook portion 30 and longitudinal frame members 23 and 24 of the chassis. The plastic material of which the entire toy is made has sufficient flexibility to permit springing the axle into position without breakage of the parts. It is understood that the dimensions of various parts are such that the amount of springing to permit insertion of the parts will not be excessive. Furthermore, hook portion 36 stops short of frame members 23 and 24 insofar as the dimension along the wheel axle is concerned.

Cross member 28 is similarly provided with hook portion 36 engaging axle 37 carrying wheels 38 and 39 at the ends thereof. Between longitudinal frame members 23 and 24 and bumper 26 is open region 41. Formed integral with and extending generally diagonally of region 41 is spring finger 42. As indicated in FIGURE '2, finger 42 has end portion 43 integral with chassis part 20 and extends forwardly and laterally of the chassis with free end 44 within window portion 41. Slidable along chassis proper 20 is relatively movable slide portion 21. This slide portion is also moulded of plastic and has end cross portion 46 which is shaped in the form of a bumper. This bumper will be at the front of the automobile. Slide portion 21 has spring tongue 47 extending rearwardly from bumper 46 and terminates in hook 48. Hook 48 is so designed that in the forward position of slide portion 21 of the chassis, book 48 will engage rear surface 50 of cross member 28 of chassis proper 20. This will limit the forward movement of front bumper 46 and the associated chassis slide portion 21. Slide portion 21 is adapted to rest on cross members 25 and 29. Cross members 25 and 29 are low enough so that slide member 21 can extend just below cross members 27 and 28. Slide member 21 is narrow enough to be between longitudinal members 23 and 24. The sloping rear face of hook 48 permits tongue 47 to slip past the bottom edge of cross member 28.

The exact construction of slidable chassis portion 21 may vary within wide limits and as here illustrated, includes cross parts 52 and 53. Cross part 52 is at the rear end of slidable chassis part 21 and is adapted to engage free end 44 of finger 42. The natural spring of finger 42 will maintain the slidable chassis part and front bumper 46 in the forward position as illustrated in FIGURE 2.

Chassis portion 20 includes as an integral part thereof spring locking leaf 55 having one end 56 moulded to longitudinal frame members 23 and 24 just back of cross member 28. Locking leaf 55 is a thin, relatively narrow strip carrying at free end 57 locking finger 58 provided with lock 59. Leaf 55 and end 56 are upwardly offset from longitudinal members 23 and 24 to clear slidable part 21. Look 59 is sloped so that it may be moved downwardly and is so dimensioned as to be near the forward edge of cross part 53 of slidable chassis portion 21. The parts are so arranged that when the front bumper is in the position illustrated in FIGURE 2, that is, the normal front position, lock 59 will engage the forward part of cross part 53. Due to the slope of lock 59, pushing free end 57 downwardly, as seen for example in FIG- URE 5, will cause relative movement of chassis parts 20 and 21 in such a direction as to move rear bumper to ward front bumper 46. Such movement will be against the spring bias of finger 42 so that when the lock is set, as seen for example in FIGURE 3 or 4, the spring of the' parts willimaintain chassis parts 2 6 and 21 locked.

'B'o'dy portions 11 and'12 'may:have any desired shape and are each provided with locating pins, the various pins being numbered 61 to 64 inclusive. Pins 61-to 64 indlusive areadapted to register withsockets 65 to 68 inclusive formed in' longitudinal parts 23 and 24 of'chassis portion'Zfl. 'In addition tothe locating pins for body portions 11 and'12, each such body portion is provided 7 with actuating pins 70 and 71. These actuating pins are so located with reference to thebodyportions that in the properly assembled condition of the entire toy,

actuating pins 70 and 71 will rest. upon the top Surface of Leaf spring 55 on the chassis. The locating pins insure that the actuating pins of the body portionswill be properly positioned with reference to the spring partof.

the chassis.

An additio'nalfpart of the automobileconsisting of top-portion'lliis also provided with means for detaching it from the rest of the automobile under-proper circumstances. Topportion 13 has depending actuating finger 73 which normally extends down through slots inbody portionsll and 12. Actuating finger 73 has free end;

' additional locking component 7 engaging the first-component chassis portion 20, thus 13 provided with a hook maintaining the entire toy assembled. The movement of the twochassis portions permitting the leaf spring to un- I lock also permits cover component 13 to unlock and fall away from the remaining additional components, portions i 11 and-.12.. Thus'the initial movement o-n-the first two components. functions to unlock the-entire assembly and @also functions to permit 'thegle-af spring to urge body portions 11 and '12 away'frorn-the chassis.

What is claimed is: i g 1'. An all plastic toy vehicle comprising one unitary molded piece in the 'shape'of. a chassis having two longitudinal side frame members and a plurality of trans-- verse members connecting the side frame members, an :axle carrying a wheel at:each.end molded as a; unitary tpartro'ne transvlersemember having a portionshaped as .a retaining clipand holding an axle in desired transverse 74 shaped as a hook and normally adapted to engage crossmember 53. Free end portion 74 of actuating finger 73 can clear the free end of plastic spring 55 because of cut-out 76 therein. Top body portion 13 restsupon of either or both of these body portions will'result'in top portion 13 being moved upwardly providing that portion 1 74 is'releasefld. I

The release of the various parts is obtained by the relative movement of front bumper 46 of slidable chassis part 21 to rear bumper 26 of chassis part The release I is due to the relative movement of .cross member 53 with relation to lock 59. Plastic leafspring 55 has an'orm'al upward bias as'seen inFIGURE 5. Whencross member- 23 is clear'of lock'59, leaf -'55 will spring up. This is strong enough to throw the body portions-and top portion of a car upwardly,- as seen in FIGURES, uponrlease of the parts.

position on the chassis, a seccndaxle and-wheel unit, a second transverse. member having a-retaining clip-portion and holding the. second axle in spaced parallel relation [to the first axle, said chassisincluding-a plastic leaf spring having'one end bridging the'side members and the "leaf extending longitudinally of the. vehicle with a plastic *detent'toothon thefreefend of said leaf, said leaf having 7 its free .endmovable vertically when the chassisiis'hori- 'body'portions 11 and 12 so that any upward movement I Variations may be made depending upon the shape of the vehicle and the'type' of vehicle that. is-provided; In

being .small enoujghto'lie betweenthe chassis side membeingnormally biased to" an up-positionin whichtposiframe transverse membenplastic 'meansmolded on said anxiliaryfrarne member and onisaid. chassis for defining 'a limited range'of longitudinal -movemcnt between the two, said auxiliaryframe member'havingJone end position where said bumper. is extendedfbeyond the 'end of the .chassis'inllwhich position said leaf'spring tooth is all such cases, however, thepiastic material of which the toy parts are made will include a thin'plas'tic spring having a part which cocperates with some d'etent portion of another part of the toy to maintain the plastic spring in a tensionedposition. At the same time, this interlock will also function to maintain the various parts temporarily locked until disengagement occurs.

'Chassis portions 20 and 21 may be considered as two components ofan'all plastic toy. 'Asillustrated here,

chassis portion ZO-carries both the leaf spring andspring depressed to engage the oneauxiliary'transverse'frame member and. lock the. leafspring in-downposition,..said

bumper when movedtoward the chassis .end releasing the'leaf spring'fcrupward movement, twoplastic'molded body portion's'normally resting upon said chassis and having fingers resting'upon saidleaf when leaf vis in its locked/lower'position, saidleaf spring throwing .said

bodyiportions upwardly clear of'said chassis when said.

' leaf spring is ilnlocked, said vehicleibeing entirely of finger-'42. However, it isevidentthat spring finger 42 could be carried by slidable portionZl and have the free end bear against rear' bumper- 2 61: In.- addition. to the two components, there are additionalcomponents of the -t0y, at least some of which are; provided; with actuating fingers which inthe normal. assembled condition of the toy bearagainst' the leaf spring when theleaffspring is locked. The relative'movement of the: fiI'St "Wd components in a direction to unlockthe leaf spring permits the leaf spring to jrel-ease. and move from 'astressed 'to an.

unstressed condition,thisniovement actuating at least 7 some of the additional components to move away from v the first two components.

, In the invention disclosedjherein, additional components 11;-and- 12 are, provided with actuating fingers for engaging a leafspring. In orderxto maintain these two 7 additional components in normal; assembled condition}? plastic and free of metal.

2. The toy construction according'to claim 1 wherein an additional plastic moldedfbodyj portion isprovided,

said additional bodyportion,nt'ar'rnally resting upon said I first named 't wo' body portions and. having a depending plastic. fingerufor locking" to the one transverse member 1 when lo'ckedbut-is also thro of said auxiliary frame member when the leaf spring 'fing'er islocked thereto whereby said additional body portion aids in holding the first named twobody portions g 'away fro-m'the'vehicle whcnth e spring is'released." V l i "References.Gitecl by the Eimminer 1 ITE STATES PATENTS 2,116,279 5/38. ODonnell 46-'-17 :DELBERT. B .'LdWEgPrimai-yixaminer;' 

1. AN ALL-PLASTIC TOY VEHICLE COMPRISING ONE UNITARY MOLDED PIECE IN THE SHAPE OF CHASSIS HAVING TWO LONGITUDINAL SIDE FRAME MEMBERS AND A PLURALITY OF TRANSVERSE MEMBERS CONNECTING THE SIDE FRAME MEMBERS, AN AXLE CARRYING A WHEEL AT EACH END MOLDED AS A UNITARY PART, ONE TRANSVERSE MEMBER HAVING A PORTION SHAPED AS A RETAINING CLIP AND HOLDING AN AXLE IN DESIRED TRANSVERSE POSITION ON THE CHASSIS A SECOND AXLE AND WHEEL UNIT, A SECOND TRANSVERSE MEMBER HAVING A RETAINING CLIP PORTION AND HOLDING THE SECOND AXLE IN SPACED PARALLEL RELATION TO THE FIRST AXLE, SAID CHASSIS INCLUDING A PLASTIC LEAF SPRING HAVING ONE END BRIDGING THE SIDE MEMBERS AND THE LEAF EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF THE VEHICLE WITH A PLASTIC DETENT TOOTH ON THE FREE END OF SAID LEAF, SAID LEAF HAVING ITS FREE END MOVABLE VERTICALLY WHEN THE CHASSIS IS HORIZONTAL, AND MOLDED PLASTIC AUXILIARY FRAME MEMBER COMPRISING SIDE AND TRANSVERSE MEMBERS AND CARRYING A BUMBER AT ONE END THEREOF, SAID AUXILIARY FRAME MEMBER BEING SMALL ENOUGH TO LIE BETWEEN THE CHASSIS SIDE MEMBERS, SAID AUXILIARY FRAME MEMBER BEING SLIDABLY SUPPORTED ON CERTAIN OF THE CHASSIS TRANSVERSE MEMBERS, SAID AUXILIARY FRAME MEMBER HAVING ONE TRANSVERSE MEMBER FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LEAF SPRING TOOTH, SAID LEAF SPRING BEING NORMALLY BIASED TO AN UP POSITION IN WHICH POSITION THE LEAF SPRING TOOTH IS FREE OF THE ONE AUXILIARY FRAME TRANSVERSE MEMBER, PLASTIC MEANS MOLDED ON SAID AUXILIARY FRAME MEMBER AND ON SAID CHASSIS FOR DEFINING A LIMITED RANGE OF LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO, SAID AUXILIARY FRAME MEMBER HAVING ONE END POSITION WHERE SAID BUMPER IS EXTENDED BEYOND THE END OF THE CHASSIS IN WHICH POSITION SAID LEAF SPRING TOOTH IS DEPRESSED TO ENGAGE THE ONE AUXILIARY TRANSVERSE FRAME MEMBER AND LOCK THE LEAF SPRRING IN DOWN POSITION, SAID BUMPER WHEN MOVED TOWARD THE CHASSIS END RELEASING THE LEAF SPRING FOR UPWARD MOVEMENT, TWO PLASTIC MOLDED BODY PORTIONS NORMALLY RESTING UPON SAID CHASSIS AND HAVING FINGERS RESTING UPON SAID LEAF WHEN LEAF IS IN ITS LOCKED LOWER POSITION, SAID LEAF SPRING THROWING SAID BODY PORTIONS UPWARDLY CLEAR OF SAID CHASSIS WHEN SAID LEAF SPRING IS UNLOCKED, SAID VEHICLE BEING ENTIRELY OF PLASTIC AND FREE OF METAL. 